Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin disclosed Monday that federal law enforcement is actively probing a thwarted plot to use vehicles as weapons against a World Cup fan festival, underscoring the high-stakes security environment surrounding the international tournament.
In an interview on Fox News, Mullin characterized the threat as “intimate” and credited close coordination between federal and local agencies for preventing what could have been a major incident. “Because of our federal partnership and our local partnership, being able to work together, we were able to stop it before it became a major incident,” he said. “It’s still ongoing.”
The secretary clarified that while the immediate danger has passed, the investigation remains active. “I mean, not the threat’s ongoing, but…we’re still actively pursuing the case,” Mullin added.
Mullin declined to specify whether the plot originated from domestic or foreign actors, nor would he reveal the exact location of the targeted fan fest. He did confirm the attack method: “The threat was about using vehicles. It was specifically towards a fan fest.”
Massive Security Footprint
The United States hosted 78 World Cup matches across 11 cities, culminating in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The security operation was immense. FBI Director Kash Patel described it as “probably the biggest lift in FBI history.”
Transportation Security Administration officers confiscated more than 300 drones at World Cup-related events. Meanwhile, NORAD fighter jets intercepted multiple aircraft that entered temporarily restricted airspace over Bedminster and East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.
The vehicle-attack plot evokes echoes of past terrorism tactics, such as the 2016 Nice truck attack and the 2017 New York City bike path attack. Mullin’s disclosure comes as the tournament also generated political controversy, including debates over cultural assimilation and diplomatic tensions involving the Falkland Islands.
The DHS chief praised the interagency coordination that disrupted the plot, saying, “Fortunately enough, we were able to have coordination with federal partners.” He did not provide a timeline for when the threat was identified or how many suspects may be involved.
